SRINAGAR: A group of heavily-armed terrorists stormed a government building in Pampore area on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on the outskirts of Srinagar on Saturday killing two CRPF men and a civilian and injuring 10 others, including nine security personnel, in an ongoing gunfight. Over 100 civilians trapped in the building were rescued.
CRPF spokesperson Bavish Chudhary told Express that a group of terrorists stormed into the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) building located at Pampore, on the outskirts of Srinagar, in the afternoon. “Before storming into the building, the terrorists attacked a CRPF vehicle outside the EDI office by firing from automatic weapons and lobbing hand grenades,” he said. Chudhary said two CRPF men were killed and nine others were injured in the attack. “The injured have been hospitalised,” he added.
The deceased CRPF men were identified as Constable R K Rana of 79 bn and Head Constable Bhola Singh of 144 Bn.
Chudhary said about 118 people including some women, who were trapped in the building, have been rescued.
Civilians let off from the building
A rescued EDI employee said there was panic and chaos after the attack. “I saw terrorists enter the building. They asked us to leave as they didn’t want to harm those with whom they have no animosity. They said they have come to fight troops.”
People trapped in top floor, hostel rescued
As many as 23 people were rescued from the top floor of the main building of the Entrepreneurship Development Institute. Ninety-five others, including EDI employees and trainees, were rescued from the hostel building of the institute.
Govt building under siege
■ Before assault on govt facility, terrorists attack CRPF vehicle with automatic weapons, hand grenades
■ One civilian among those killed
■ Terrorists take up positions in main building of EDI, fire intermittently at security forces
■ More than 100 civilians trapped in EDI building rescued
■ After the rescue of civilians, CRPF, cops and Army launch op to flush out terrorists
■ Three-four terrorists involved in the attack, according to a police officer